Impact of Neurosurgical Intervention on Neuropsychiatric Behavioral Changes in Patients with Intracranial Tumors: A Longitudinal Study

Abstract

Aim: To assess the impact of the neurosurgical intervention on neuropsychiatric behavioral changes in patients with intracranial tumors:

Study design: A longitudinal study

Place and duration: This study was conducted at Life Care Hospital Islamabad, Pakistan from April 2020 to April 2021.

Methodology: Purposeful sampling technique was used in this study to investigate neuropsychological symptoms in patients with intracranial tumors who were getting treatment in our hospital. The Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q), which identifies 12 behavioral disorders, was rated as symptom severity as well as symptom scores at baseline, one month, and six months after therapeutic interventions.

Results: Out of 45 participants, at least one neuropsychological symptom was present in every patient. Anxiety (92 %), agitation (80%), irritability (80%), sadness (78 %), and sleep difficulties were the most common neuropsychological symptoms at baseline (62 %). The symptom and severity scores were 4.34 (SD +3.7) and 10.8 (+8.2), respectively, at one month, 3.3 (+2.1) and 6.2 (+4.1), and then 2.1 (+3.9) and 4.6 (+4.2) at six months. Anxiety (22%) was the most common neuropsychological symptom, followed by sadness (22%), sleep problems (22%), agitation (24%), irritability (33%), and disinhibition (33%). (22 %). Shortly after surgery, the severity score improved, while the symptom score improved with time.

Conclusion: Patients with intracranial tumors have a high cognitive impact. The severity score improved soon after surgery, while the symptom score improved over time. Six months following surgery, the wide range of improvement in cognitive problems needs further examination.